Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 4

Author(s): R P Poddar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 24

BIRTHPLACE OF LORD MAHAVIRA RE-CONSIDERED
Dr. RAM PRAKASH PODDAR
In the Ardhamāgadhi Jain Agamas Lord Mahavira has been called Videhaputta, Videhasukumāra and also Vesaliya (Vaisālika). From this it has been inferred that he was born in the province of Videha at or around the ancient city of Vaisāli. His birthplace has been said to be Kundagrama or Ksatriya Kundagrāma. Close to this Ksatriya Kuṇḍagrāma there was a township inhabited by Brāhmaṇas called Brāhmaṇa Kundagrāma. According to the account of the Kalpasūtra, the Lord first descended into the womb of Devānandā Māhani (Brāhmaṇī) of Brāhmaṇa Kundagrāma. Later, the embryo was transferred to the womb of Tisalā Khattiyāņi (Trisala Kṣatriyāņi) of Ksatriya Kuṇḍagrāma.
On the strength of the evidence that the Lord has been called Vaisalika, efforts have been made to locate the ancient Ksatriya Kundagrāma in the vicinity of Vaišāli.
To the north-east of the present ruins of Vaisali there is a small village called Basokunda. It has been identified as the ancient Ksatriya Kundagrāma. The Government of Bihar has approved this site as the birthplace of Lord Mahavira and a monument is going to be erected in near future. Arguments on which this identification is based may be summarised as follows:
(i) It is in the vicinity of Vaiśāli.
(ii) 'Kunda' part of this village-name is the survivor of its prototype in "Ksatriya Kuṇḍagrāma'.
(iii) It is very close to the present Kolhua village which is identified with the ancient settlement called Kollaga Sanniveša where Lord Mahavira accepted his first begged food after his initiation into the order of monks.
(iv) To the east of the present ruins of Vaišali there is a village called Kummana Chapra or Kammana Chapra. That in ancient times it was a place of cultural importance is proved by the fact that from the out-skirts of this village a giant size magnificent four-faced Śivalinga has been excavated. The